Fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) is a key feature of the fisheries management process.  Traditionally MCS has been characterized by the following elements:

• Monitoring: the continuous requirement for the measurement of fishing effort characteristics and resource yields;

• Control:  the regulatory conditions under which the exploitation of the resource may be conducted; and,

• Surveillance: the degree and types of observations required to maintain compliance with the regulatory controls imposed on fishing activities.

Meaningful integration of MCS measures with fisheries management objectives, legal frameworks, of course penalties and sanctions, are needed in order to achieve a comprehensive programme. Effective MCS methods combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) activities.  IUU activities occur at sea, both on the high seas and also in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of coastal States as well as shoreside.  These activities are conducted by national and foreign vessels and are continued by other entities which provide the landing, transfer, distribution and sale of illegal fish.   IUU fishing is one of the greatest threats to sustainable fisheries today. It endangers dependent coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and economic viability in many locations.
     
Technological advances, including the expansive use of satellite based Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), vessel detection systems, electronic reporting schemes and other methods are being used increasingly by MCS authorities.  Even greater VMS usage is assured as The Rome Declaration of 2005 on IUU fishing by fisheries ministers requires all nations to ensure that their large scale high seas fishing vessels are fitted with VMS no later than December 2008.  More technological developments can be expected as costs decline and innovations continue.

MCS activities require a key role for flag States but increasingly it has been acknowledged that the roles of the coastal, port and market States as well as those of regional fisheries bodies are also essential for the successful combat of IUU fishing and related activities. A number of binding and non-binding instruments, such as the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU fishing, the Compliance Agreement and others, elaborate on these responsibilities and duties of States and more are likely in the future.
   
Activities

The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department continues to work on improving national MCS capacity and international cooperation through a range of technical meetings, workshops and studies, and through contributions to the preparation and implementation of MCS projects and national plans of action on IUU fishing.

FAO’s activities on MCS are focused on the following:

• IUU and Related Activities
• Port State Measures
• International Collaboration on MCS/VMS
• Capacity Building
• Fishing Vessel Monitoring Systems
• Fishing Vessel Registration Systems
• Comprehensive Global Record of Fishing Vessels